Cape Cod Disc Golf Open

Fans of disc golf will want to make their way to Burgess Park in Marstons Mills this weekend as the official Sports Authority 2012 Cape Cod Disc Golf Open rolls into town.

Kathleen Szmit

Contributed Photo

READY TO THROW – Discs bearing the new Sports Authority 2012 Cape Cod Disc Golf Open await distribution at the June 30 event, which begins at 9:20 a.m. at Burgess Park in Marstons Mills.

Hitting the links at Burgess Park

Fans of disc golf will want to make their way to Burgess Park in Marstons Mills this weekend as the official Sports Authority 2012 Cape Cod Disc Golf Open rolls into town.

According to Cape Cod Disc Golf Club (CCDGC) president Greenleaf Garrison, the 2012 event will far outshine the inaugural event, held last October amid chilly, rainy weather.

Not only does this weekend’s weather look ideal for a good round of disc golf, but the Open has come a long way since its start in 2011.

“The tournament filled up about a month after registration opened,” Garrison said. “We’ve been running a wait list ever since.”

Garrison said that 72 disc golfers from on and off Cape playing four to a hole will take part in the 2012 event, which kicks off at 9:30 a.m. June 30.

Not only is the 2012 event an official Professional Disc Golf Association sanctioned event, but it’s also a New England Flying Disc Association (NEFA) Point Series event. The Title Sponsor for the Open is Sports Authority, and Garrison said the tournament’s prizes are impressive, and include discs, key fobs and specially designed trophies. The Holly Tree Resort in Yarmouth has donated a two-night stay prize, as well.

Garrison stressed that the Open is a family-friendly event that spectators will enjoy as they not only cheer on their favorite disc golfers, but also take in all the improvements the CCDGC has made to Burgess Park in the past year.

John Tserpes and Matt Medeiros repainted the Burgess Park sign, and Josh Rogers made a custom sheet metal sign to replace the one that was stolen in 2011.

During special club workdays, the club has also held brush pile burns, removed trash, renovated tee pads and conducted general park maintenance.

Garrison said a source of pride for him is the Adopt-A-Hole program through which CCDGC members take ownership of a specific hole on the Burgess course and assume responsibility for keeping it clean, neat and playable.

“All but one hole has been adopted,” Garrison said. “It’s one of the best improvements we have.”

With disc golf (played with specialized Frisbees) soaring in popularity, Garrison said that keeping Burgess Park in excellent shape has become a CCDGC priority.

Garrison noted that Lev Malakhoff of Cape Cod Fish Golf has been instrumental in assisting with course maintenance, as has Marstons Mills resident Al Baker. Baker regularly removes trash from the park, while Malakhoff helped secure hole baskets after a theft last year.

Garrison also gave kudos to the Marstons Mills Village Association, with whom the CCDGC has been working closely.

“We’re trying our best, going to meetings, listening to them and trying to do what they want,” Garrison said. “The CCDGC is committed to making sure this park maintains the best status, so more people can continue to use it and not have to worry about losing it.”

Events such as the Open go a long way toward encouraging proper use of the course, and allow spectators to see disc golf in action. Garrison also invites folks to enjoy food from the Fiddlestix food trolley, which returns for its second year at the event, and enjoy samples from event sponsor Cape Cod Potato Chips.

The 2012 Open, Garrison said, is symbolic of what the future holds for disc golf on Cape Cod.

“The park is becoming so heavily utilized it is not uncommon to have a hard time finding a parking spot on the warm sunny days,” he said. “There are more and more families coming out and discovering disc golf.”

The Sports Authority 2012 Cape Cod Disc Golf Open will be held June 30 at Burgess Park in Marstons Mills beginning at 9:20 a.m. The event includes two rounds of 18 holes, food by Fiddlestix, and much more. For more information contact Greenleaf Garrison at capecoddiscgolf@gmail.com.

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